Thursday, November 3, 2011

A Fearless Nation in Second Life

There are a lot of misconceptions about the internet in general and virtual worlds in particular and no I'm not even talking about the proverbial fat guy in the basement (he's OK by the way, once you get past his grunting and unwillingness to take showers). Relevant to this post is the idea that the technology is "alienating" and that we can become more isolated by becoming immersed in the "fake" lives we create. This might be true for some but for others it provides a totally opposite experience.

They provide information, access to resources, classes, workshops, support groups and more. They also hold an annual festival to heighten awareness of this debilitating problem and the help that is available as well as education to address the widespread issue of stigma associated with any mental illness. This year's festival begins tomorrow with a presentation by the organization's founder, Anya Ibor, and will last for 10 days.

Sims which are normally closed to the public for use by members of the organization will be open for you to explore and a hunt will encourage you to learn about the issue and treatment.

Two additional sims have been added for the month and display fantastic pieces by some of our favourite artists. Curated by the indomitable Eliza Wierwight you will find it easy to lose yourself for hours enjoying the works of:

I don't know anybody, including myself, whose life has not been touched or altered by mental illness whether their own or that of a loved one. One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this burden is the feeling of being "alone". Second Life and Fearless Nation help begin recovery by first addressing this issue and then providing the support and assistance necessary to ensure that the appropriate treatment for PTSD is received.

I encourage you to learn more by taking advantage of this opportunity to enjoy a festival and to become familiar with an extraordinary facility and resource that directly contradicts the notion that alienation is inevitable in our world.

I have two basement. Okay, well they are actually carparks but it sounds pervy huh :)

Hey Miss McMillan, thank you so much for highlighting this event and the importance of getting the word out there about PTSD. I actually took a little time to exhale during all this creation & curation and have such a high respect for everyone who has been involved to date. Yourself included.

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I'm a resident of Second Life and I created this blog originally as a way to record my learning and development inworld. These days I post a lot of travelogues sprinkled with the occasional vent or off topic musings. Mostly I'm about community and builds and art and the wonder that is this virtual world.